Seahawks top two picks hoping to avoid holdouts

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Safety Earl Thomas answers reporters questions while new teammate Russell Okung laughs in the background as the two first-round draft picks were introduced at Seahawks headquarters back in April. (Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com)

Although only two first-round draft picks have signed around the NFL on the eve of reporting dates for training camp, the agents for Russell Okung and Earl Thomas remain optimistic their clients won’t miss any time for the Seahawks this preseason.

Okung and Thomas are two of the league’s 30 still-unsigned No. 1 picks. With Seahawks rookies due to report for physicals on Thursday, the clock is ticking.

But Andrew Kessler, the agent for Thomas, doesn’t view the lack of signings as an impediment.

“I like setting the market,” Kessler said via e-mail on Wednesday as he continued working on a deal for Thomas, a highly-regarded free safety out of Texas selected with the 14th pick in the first round.

“Hopefully we reach an agreement before the report date tomorrow night. That is certainly what we’re aiming for.”

Meanwhile, Peter Schaeffer, the agent for Okung, told Gregg Bell of the Associated Press that he’s been talking with the Seahawks every day for the past two weeks about contract terms for the offensive tackle out of Oklahoma State.

“If he won’t be on the field, it won’t be for a lack of effort on our part,” Schaeffer told AP.

Okung, the sixth overall pick, is expected to slide immediately into a starting role at the critical left tackle position, so it would be beneficial if he didn’t miss much time in camp.

Veterans are scheduled to report on Friday and the team hits the field for the first time Saturday morning at 9 a.m., so there remains a little wiggle room.

At this point, the only first-round picks under contract are wide receiver Dez Bryant (the 24th pick by the Cowboys) and cornerback Devin McCourty (27th by New England).

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate, a second-round pick, agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Seahawks on Wednesday, leaving only the two top picks unsigned among Seattle’s nine draftees.

Though camp opens Saturday, the Seahawks likely will still have a roster adjustment or two to make before then. When Tate — and then the first-round picks — are officially signed, the team will have to cut players from their 80-man roster to make room.

Additionally, there’s a chance the club could still add another veteran or two. Offensive guard Chester Pitts, a free agent from Houston, is still talking to Seattle among other clubs and “remains a possibility” to join the Seahawks, according to Kessler, who also represents the 31-year-old lineman.